On 6th February 1958, Munich Air Disaster occurred when the British Flight carrying the Manchester United Team crashed at Munich Riem Airport on its third attempt to take off from a snow covered runway. Supporters and Journalists were also on the plane along with Manchester United Team nicked name as “Busby Babes”. On that day, 20 of them died from 44 and injured were taken to the Rechts Der Isar Hospital in Munich, Germany. In Hospital three passengers more died resulting 23 from 44 fatalities and 21 survivors.
In Belgrade, Siberia there was the European Cup Match against the Red Star Belgrade. This match was the 2nd leg and match was drawn by 3-3 after 1st leg match that was held in Old Trafford on 21st January 1958 and Manchester United won the match by 2-1. And the team was sent to semifinals. European Cup was established by UEFA in April 1955 for the champion clubs of UEFA affiliated nations.
After the match, team was returning from Siberia after match and in Munich, flight stopped for refuel and flight was nonstop from Belgrade to Manchester. The control tower had given the permission to pilots for the takeoff. Name of the pilots were James Thain and Kenneth Rayment. The flight was abundant because the fluctuating of port boost pressure gauge. Second takeoff was made three minutes later but plane was called off because of over accelerating. After again failure, passengers were retreated to airport and heavy snow fall started. After almost 15 minutes passengers were called off back to plane. Then again pilots were ready to takeoff and they went to the runway. When pilots again got ready to takeoff plane again started to surge. After that engine again fluctuated and which cause the plane to lost speed. And then plane ranoff the runway and crashed into the fence surrounding the airport. Plane’s port wing torn off as it caught into the house. No one was hurt in the house because family got escaped, when house caught fire. Left side of cockpit hit the tree and plane’s tail was also torn off and the right side of plane hit a wooded hut and got exploded. In this crash twenty passengers died and 3 died later.
Victims of Munich Air Disaster
Roger Byrne
Roger Byrne was born on 8 February1929 in Manchester. He was the captain of the team. He played 277 matches and scored total 19 goals. He won 33 caps for England. He won 3 championship medals. His field position was left-back. He died at the age of 28 in Munich Air Disaster.
Mark Jones
Mark Jones was born on 15 June 1933 in Long valley near Barnsley. He played 120 matches and scored 1 goal. His nick name was The Gentle Giant. His position in the field was center-half. He died in Munich Air Disaster.
Duncan Edwards
Duncan Edwards was born on 1 October 1936 in Dudley, Worcestershire. He appeared in 175 matches and scored 21 goals. He won 18 caps for England. He won two championship medals. He died 15 days after the crash while fighting for life on 21 February 1958.
Tommy Taylor
Tommy Taylor was born on 29 January 1932 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. He appeared in 189 matches and scored 128 goals. He won 19 caps for England and he also won 2 championship medals. His position in the field was center-forward. He was bought from Barnsley at the cost of £29,000. He died in Munich Air Disaster.
Eddie Coleman
Eddie Coleman was born on 1 November 1936 in Salford, Lancashire. He appeared in 107 matches and he scored 2 goals. He won 2 championship medals. His position in the field was right-half. He was smallest player with respect to height in the team. He died in Munich Air Disaster at the age of 21.
Liam Whelan
Liam Whelan was born on 1 April 1935 in Dublin. He appeared in 96 matches and he scored 52 goals. He won 4 caps for Republic of Ireland and he also won 2 championship medals. His position in the field was inside-right and he also was a former captain of Manchester United. He also died in Munich Air Crash.
David Pegg
David Pegg was born on 20 September 1935 in Doncaster, Yorkshire. He appeared in 148 matches and he scored 28 goals. He won 1 cap for England and also won 2 championship medals. His position was outside-left in the field. He made debut at the age of 17. He was only 22 when he died in Munich Air Disaster.
Geoff Bent
Geoff Bent was born on 27 September 1932 in Salford, Lancashire. He appeared in 12 matches and scored nothing.He was the aggressive tackler and covered full-back. He also died in Munich Air Disaster.
Beside them who died also were:
Walter Crickmer He was the Club secretary.
Bert Whalley He was the Chief Coach and also a former left-half at Old Trafford.
Tom Curry He was the Journalist in Manchester Evening Chronicle.
Don Davies He was the Journalist in Manchester Guardian.
George Follows He was the Journalist in Daily Herald.
Tom Jackson He was the Journalist in Manchester Evening News.
Archie Ledbrooke He was the Journalist in Daily Mirror.
Henry Rose He was the Journalist in Daily Express.
Eric Thompson He was the Journalist in Daily Mail.
Frank Swift He was the Journalist in News of the World.
Capt Kenneth Rayment He was the Co-Pilot.
Bela Miklos Travel Agent
Willie Satinoff He was the Supporter.
Tom Cable Steward
Survivors of the Munich Air Disaster
Matt Busby
Mat Busby was the manager of Manchester United at the time of crash. He was also the former Scottish player. He was severely injured in the crash. He rebuilt the team and in 1968 Machester United won the European Cup and this was the biggest success of Busby's career. He was retired in 1969 as a manager.
Bill Foulkes
Bill Foulkes was born on 5 January 1932 in St Helens, United Kingdom. He had the major part in European Cup in 1968. He was the defender of the team and at the time of Munich Air Disaster, he was 26. His position was center-back in the field. He died on 5 January 1932 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Harry Greg
Harry Greg was born on 27 October 1932 in Magherafelt, United Kingdom. He was the goalkeeper of the team and joined the team 2 months before the crash. He was 24 at the time of crash. He survived the crash and was awarded for bravery to went back to the wreckage to save the passengers.
Johnny Berry
Johnny Berry was born on 1 June 1926 in Aldershot, United Kingdom. He was the right winger. He joined the Manchester United in 1951 from Birmingham City. He played 277 matches from the side of Manchester United and he scored 44 goals. He scored plenty of goals and he never played again after the crash. He also survived the crash. He was of 31 at the time of crash. He died on 16 September 1994 in Farnham, United Kingdom.
Jackie Blanchflower
Jackie Blanchflower was born on 7 March 1933 in Belfest, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. He appeared 117 matches from the side of Manchester United and team won two title leagues. He was capped 12 times for Ireland. He was the defender of the team. He was of 24 at the time of crash. After creash he never played again. He died on 2 September 1998 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton was born on 11 October 1937 in Ashington, United Kingdom. He scored two goals the night before the crash. He was the mid-fielder at the Manchester United and was the essential player of the club. He was of 20 at the time of crash.
Ken Morgans
Ken Morgans was born on 16 March 1939 in Swansea, United Kingdom. He was the winger of the team. He was the last player to b rescued from the wreckage an youngest player on the board. He never recovered his form after crash. He died on 18 November 2012.
Albert Scanlon
Albert Scanlon was born on 10 October 1935 in Hulme, United Kingdom. He was the forward position player of the team. He was 22 at the time of crash and suffered from head injuries in the crash. Recovered and played for the team several years. He died on 22 December 2009.
Dennis Viollet
Dennis Viollet was born on 20 September 1933 in Fallowfield, United Kingdom. Dennis played 291 matches and scored 178 goals. He was the best player of team. He survived in the crash and died in 6 March 1999 in Jacksonville, United Kingdom.
Ray Wood
Ray Wood was born on 11 June 1931 in Hebburn, United Kingdom. He was the goalkeeper of the team. He was the one of the legends. He survived the crash. He died on 7 July 2002 in Bexhilo-on-sea, United Kingdom.
Beside them who survived also were:
Frank Taylor He was a Journalist.
Mrs Vera Lukic and baby daughter Venona They were Passengers.
Ted Ellyard He was a Photographer.
Peter Howard He was a Photographer.
Mr N Tomasevic He was a Passenger.
Mrs Miklos She was Wife of Bela Miklos, died in crash.
George Rodgers He was a Radio officer.
James Thain He was a Pilot.
Rosemary Cheverton She was a Stewardess.
Margaret Bellis She was a Stewardess.
In Munich, Germany Memorial Stone was placed on the site as a tribute to the team that were victims of Munich Air Disaster.
They all are alive in every football fan's heart till today. They were legends called "Busby Babes".
Regards
Abraham_Lincoln
